Car seat laws in Nevada state that children who are younger than six and less than 57 inches tall are required to have child restraints in a car. Rules about child restraint vary from state to state, and there are as many opinions as there are parents, so there is some confusion about what the laws are regarding child safety restraints in a vehicle.
The question many are asking is, when does my child have to be in a car seat, and how do I know whether it should be rear-facing, front-facing, or a booster? When does my child “graduate” from a car seat to an ordinary seatbelt? At H&P Law, we can answer any questions you have about car seat laws in Nevada.
Schedule a free consultation with our car accident lawyers in Las Vegas to learn more about these laws and get the help you need after an accident. Let’s take a closer look at the state’s car seat laws and how a lawyer can help you.
Who Has to Be in a Car Seat in Nevada?
Under current car seat laws in Nevada, children who are younger than six and less than 57 inches tall are required to have child restraints in a car. That means once your child turns six or reaches 57 inches, whichever comes first, they can legally use a seatbelt like an adult.
Nevada has had child restraint laws since 1983, and those laws have been updated multiple times over the years. The most recent version of the statute, NRS 484B.157, was updated effective January 1, 2022.
The statute provides limited guidance on the specific type of car seat that should be used, stating only that the car seat must be “appropriate for the size and weight of the child.” At H&P Law, we can explain how these rules apply to your family.
When Does a Child Have to Be Rear-Facing?
The 2022 update to NRS 484B.157 added a specific requirement to the car seat laws in Nevada for younger children. According to the update to the car seat law in Nevada, children under two years of age must ride in a rear-facing child restraint system in the back seat of the vehicle.
Additionally, a child under two may ride in a rear-facing seat on the front passenger side only if the passenger-side airbag is deactivated and a physician has certified in writing that the child’s special health care needs require them to ride in the front seat, or there is no back seat in the vehicle.
What Happens if Your Child is Injured in a Car Accident?
Even when your child is properly secured in the right car seat, a collision caused by another driver can still result in injuries. Children are more physically vulnerable than adults, and a crash can cause harm despite every precaution you took.
If another driver’s negligence caused the accident, your family may be entitled to compensation for your child’s medical bills, ongoing treatment, pain and suffering, and other losses. Nevada law allows parents to file a claim on behalf of a minor child.
An experienced car accident attorney from H&P Law can walk you through what that process looks like, tell you what your case may be worth, and answer any questions you have about the Nevada car seat laws.
Can a Car Seat Violation Affect Your Injury Claim?
If your child wasn’t in the correct restraint at the time of the accident, the other driver’s insurer may try to use that against you to reduce or deny your claim. That said, a car seat violation doesn’t erase the other driver’s fault. Nevada is a comparative negligence state, which means your compensation may be reduced based on your share of responsibility.
You also don’t lose your right to recover damages entirely unless you’re found to be more than 50% at fault for the incident. An attorney can push back against the insurance company’s tactics and build the strongest possible case for damages.
Schedule a free consultation with H&P Law to learn more about how car seat laws in Nevada impact your claim and get the representation you need to recover fair compensation.
Learn More About Car Seat Laws in Nevada With an H&P Law Attorney
If you or your child was injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to face the claims process alone. At H&P Law, our Las Vegas car accident attorneys have over 60 years of combined experience and have recovered more than $100 million in damages for accident victims across Nevada.
We can review the details of your case, tell you if you have grounds for a personal injury claim, and guide you through every step of the legal process. We’ll deal with the insurance company and even take your case to trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered. We’ll aim to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain, income losses, and other challenges.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your options. We’ll meet with you to answer any more questions you have about car seat laws in Nevada and help you get started on a legal claim.
